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Living Free - Feb. 22, 2011

"‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'" Matthew 22:37 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Tammy's story continues … "Many years after I made the decision to follow Christ, I came to a place of crisis in faith. It was a spiritually dry season; I was burned out from the ministry, disillusioned with the Christian community, and susceptible to temptation. One morning I found myself in a dark and empty sanctuary calling out to God, "What do you want from me?" Like Elijah, I reminded God of my résumé. "What more do you want?" I ranted, raved, wept. Then, finally, I was speechless. These words came to my mind, gentle yet deliberate: 'I want your whole heart. There are others who occupy the throne of your heart. I want to be your one and only.'"

"I was humbled by this truth! How pitiful! After all the years I had known and served God, I still held on to a few idolatrous affections that had the potential to destroy me. Though I forfeited much to follow Christ, there still remained one small dusty corner of my heart that belonged to the fantasies of yesterday. I rarely visited the place and seldom saw the objects of my affections, but when this hidden place was exposed, I acknowledged that these idols would eventually be my downfall. I prayed these words, "Lord, help me to see things as they are and not as my heart tells me they are." The next several months brought an awakening of truth, and the power these stale affections held over me was completely destroyed. No longer was I a prisoner of my deceived heart. I was free—free to obey God and become all He had created me to be.

Consider this …

Does your whole heart belong to God? Or are there some dark lingering places that still rear their ugly heads in your life? Are there people or things more important to you than God? Ask God to search your heart. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT).

Prayer

Lord, help me see things as they are and not as my heart tells me they are. I want my whole heart to belong to You. In Jesus' name …

These thoughts were drawn from …

Lessons Learned: Moving from Homosexuality to Holiness by Tammy Webb-Witholt. This group study offers biblical tools, along with an abundance of hope, to anyone struggling with homosexuality. It is also a great group for anyone desiring a deeper walk with God. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study.

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